Tory Chairman Brandon Lewis said this morning it had been a "tough night" but he urged Labour to "stop up and respect the referendum".

And Jeremy Hunt admitted the results "look like a slap in the face for both the main parties", while Scottish Tories chief Ruth Davidson said: "It seems to be a plague on both your houses."

Tory MP Vicky Ford said she was "gutted" to see Chelmsford council go to the Liberal Democrats overnight. "It's been brutal," she said.

Party veteran Sir David Amess blasted: "The results are absolutely dreadful" - and called on the PM to quit as soon as possible.

Ex-minister Mark Francois warned the Euro elections later this month would be even more disastrous, saying: "In a tsunami the sea goes out, and comes crashing back in.

"This is the sea going out. May 23 will be an absolute tsunami."

GRASSROOTS REVOLT

But grassroots Tories across the country vented their fury and disappointment with their party after a difficult night for them.

Tony Berry, the leader of the Tories on Cotswold District Council, who have lost the council to Liberal Democrats after 16 years in charge, blasted: "I would ask [Theresa May] to consider her position very carefully".

He blamed Brexit and "professional politicians who are basically working for themselves rather than necessarily what is best for the country."

Even top Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg was hit by the backlash - as the Tory councillor for his Somerset neighbourhood was beaten by a Lib Dem.

Defeated Tim Warren said last night that people wanted to "punish us for a lack of action in Government."

"There needs to be a change in action," he stressed. "The electorate have spoken tonight and they have been very angry."

Gutted to have lost many outstanding councillors who have made a huge difference to local communities and improved services all across Chelmsford. It’s been brutal.

Strikes me that on the basis of the results in so far - the message to both main parties is “plague on both your houses”. People are voting for change and change is indeed coming @TheIndGroup#Elections2019

A clearly frustrated Donna Jones, the Conservative group leader on Portsmouth City Council said: "I think [Mrs May] needs to take a look at how many councillors we’ve lost overnight, wake up in the morning and think about how she thinks the Conservative party needs to put its best foot forward."

And Tory Brexiteer Bernard Jenkin told the BBC: "People are very disillusioned, that the country made a decision and the politicians haven't implemented.

"[Theresa May] still has a degree of personal sympathy but people think it’s time for a change.

"They can see she’s lost the plot, she’s not in control of events."

Ex-Cabinet minister Priti Patel said the pitiful message she was getting on the doorstep from voters showed her it was time for the PM to go.

"People have very categorically said she is part of the problem," she said.

"Our party leadership needs to make some very, very serious decisions. Many of my constituents have said we need a change of leadership. Perhaps the time has come for that."

LABOUR FLOP

His words will be seen as a huge hint Labour will be on board to do a deal with the Tories to force Brexit through in the coming weeks.

MP Ruth Smeeth said it wasn't good news in her area of Stoke on Trent last night. She said: "The leadership needs to look at these results very carefully. This is a strong leave area and my constituents just don’t trust us to deliver.

"We need clear messaging from the top. Messing around just isn't working. I want to deliver Brexit for my constituents."

Furious Sunderland council leader Graeme Miller said the party’s Brexit policy was to blame for losing 10 seats in his patch.

He said: "Sunderland voted as a city to leave in June 2016, and having had a Labour message across the city from MPs saying we need to be having a second referendum, people in Sunderland have said ‘we are just not accepting that.'"

This is a strong leave area and my constituents just don’t trust us to deliver

Labour MP Ruth Smeeth

One MP told Sky earlier: "You stand in the middle of the road and you get run over in both directions. Corbyn must go. He is killing our party and our country."

The Lib Dems declared victory today - leader Vince Cable said: “The Liberal Democrats are the big winners of this year’s elections, with already our best result for over 15 years and more gains expected today.

“Voters have sent a clear message that they no longer have confidence in the Conservatives, but they are also refusing to reward Labour while the party prevaricates on the big issue of the day: Brexit."

The results could trigger a fresh challenge to Mrs May as panicked Tories guard against disaster in the EU elections on May 23 as well as the next General Election.

Counting will continue well into Friday in some areas, so the full results won't be known until this afternoon or evening.

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